Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense patches, present participle patching, past tense, past participle patched
1. countable noun
A patch on a surface is a part of it which is different in appearance from the area aroundit.
...the bald patch on the top of his head. [+ on]
There was a small patch of blue in the grey clouds. [+ of]
...two big damp patches on the carpet.
2. countable noun
A patchof land is a small area of land where a particular plant or crop grows.
...a patch of land covered in forest. [+ of]
...the little vegetable patch in her backyard.
...a patch of wild cornflowers.
Synonyms: plot, area, ground, land More Synonyms of patch
3. countable noun
A patch is a piece of material which you use to cover a hole in something.
...jackets with patches on the elbows. [+ on]
...trying to fix the flat tire by putting a patch on it.
Synonyms: reinforcement, piece of fabric, piece of cloth, piece of material More Synonyms of patch
4. countable noun
A patch is a small piece of material which you wear to cover an injured eye.
She went to the hospital and found him lying down with a patch over his eye. [+ over]
5. See also eye patch
6. verb
If you patch something that has a hole in it, you mend it by fastening a patch over the hole.
He and Walker patched the barn roof. [VERB noun]
One of the mechanics took off the damaged tyre, and took it back to the station tobe patched. [VERB noun]
...their patched clothes. [VERB-ed]
7. countable noun
A patch is a piece of computer program code written as a temporary solution for dealing with a virus in computer software and distributed by the makers of the original program.
[computing]
Older machines will need a software patch to be loaded to correct the date.
8.
See a bad patch/a rough patch
9.
See not a patch on sb/sth
Phrasal verbs:
See patch together
See patch up
More Synonyms of patch
patch in British English
(pætʃ)
noun
1.
a.
a piece of material used to mend a garment or to make patchwork, a sewn-on pocket, etc
b.
(as modifier)
a patch pocket
2.
a small piece, area, expanse, etc
3.
a.
a small plot of land
b.
its produce
a patch of cabbages
4.
a district for which particular officials, such as social workers or police officers, have responsibility
that problem is on your patch
5. pathology
any discoloured area on the skin, mucous membranes, etc, usually being one sign of a specific disorder
6. medicine
a.
a protective covering for an injured eye
b.
any protective dressing
7.
an imitation beauty spot, esp one made of black or coloured silk, worn by both sexes, esp in the 18th century
8. Also called: flash US
an identifying piece of fabric worn on the shoulder of a uniform, on a vehicle, etc
9.
a small contrasting section or stretch
a patch of cloud in the blue sky
10.
a scrap; remnant
11. computing
a small set of instructions to correct or improve a computer program
12. Australian informal
the insignia of a motorcycle club or gang
13. a bad patch
14. not a patch on
verb(transitive)
15.
to mend or supply (a garment, etc) with a patch or patches
16.
to put together or produce with patches
17.
(of material) to serve as a patch to
18. (often foll by up)
to mend hurriedly or in a makeshift way
19. (often foll by up)
to make (up) or settle (a quarrel)
20.
to connect (electric circuits) together temporarily by means of a patch board
21. (usually foll by through)
to connect (a telephone call) by means of a patch board
22. computing
to correct or improve (a program) by adding a small set of instructions
Derived forms
patchable (ˈpatchable)
adjective
patcher (ˈpatcher)
noun
Word origin
C16 pacche, perhaps from French piechepiece
patch in American English1
(pætʃ)
noun
1.
a piece of material applied to cover or mend a hole or tear or to strengthen a weak spot
2.
a dressing applied to a wound or sore
3.
a pad or shield worn over an eye, as for protection
4.
a surface area differing from its surroundings in nature or appearance
patches of snow on the ground
5.
a small plot of ground
a potato patch
6.
a.
a small piece of any material; scrap; bit; remnant
b.
beauty spot (sense 1)
7.
the connection of two circuits, pieces of electronic equipment, etc. with a cable (patch cord) having plugs or clips on each end, specif. such a connection (phone patch) of telephone and radio equipment
8.
shoulder patch
9. Computing
a number of instructions added to a program that has already been translated into machine language, as to correct an error
10. Pharmacy
an adhesive pad containing a drug or hormone that is to be steadily absorbed through the skin into the bloodstream
verb transitive
11.
to put a patch or patches on
12.
to serve as a patch for
13.
to form or make by the use of patches
to patch a quilt
14.
to produce or piece together roughly, crudely, or hurriedly
often with up or together
15.
to connect (electronic circuits, equipment, etc.), as with patch cords
verb intransitive
16.
to make electronic connections, as with patch cords
SIMILAR WORDS: mend
Idioms:
not a patch on
patch up
Derived forms
patcher (ˈpatcher)
noun
Word origin
ME pacche, prob. var. of peche, a piece < OFr pieche, var. of pece, piece, piece
patch in American English2
(pætʃ)
noun Archaic
1.
a court jester
2.
any clown or fool
Word origin
prob. < It paccheo, dial. var. of pazzo, crazy (< ? L patiens, sick: see patient): altered by assoc. with patch1
More idioms containing
patch
not a patch on someone or something
COBUILD Collocations
patch
bald patch
bare patch
rocky patch
Examples of 'patch' in a sentence
patch
It is gentle on problem areas and dry patches.
The Sun (2017)
Wonder if he knows about that bald patch?
The Sun (2016)
Five years ago we went through a really bad patch and agreed to split up for a while.
The Sun (2016)
Symptoms include red and white patches on the gills, rough patches of skin and sunken eyes.
The Sun (2016)
They particularly favour low, damp patches at the edge of lawns where there is some shelter from trees.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Within three months I had eight bald patches.
The Sun (2017)
He had landed in a patch of blazing forest.
Len Deighton Bomber
That explains the lotion and eye patches.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Growing out your hair to cover the area actually makes patches look worse.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The grass is still growing so you can still make patch repairs to lawns.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
His left eye is no longer covered by a patch but softened behind glasses.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
This is a white patch on the back of its neck.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
But the hole in the roof was patched up badly and the foundations completely neglected.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
They come in different strengths but one patch is usually meant to tackle cravings for a day.
The Sun (2014)
No ugly snow wash or patch pockets either.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The agenda had been hastily patched together and no one in the audience knew what was coming.
Michael Boulter EXTINCTION: Evolution and the End of Man (2002)
They grew back thinner with a couple of small bald patches.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Use small bits of extra pastry to patch any holes and cracks.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The skin underneath the bald patch looks completely normal.
The Sun (2010)
The top of its beam seemed to explode as it moved across cloud patches.
Len Deighton Bomber
He had a patch on one eye and a big scar on his face.
The Sun (2009)
But there will be patches that cover themselves in blossom and then with berries.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
There was a big white patch on the back of my head.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
As with any lawyer, one goes through good and bad patches.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Failing that, it can patch the area to make it less prominent.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Other costs include splashing out on health foods, buying nicotine patches or clothes for a new image.
The Sun (2015)
She said in one rare interview: 'In those days we only had meat to eat on holidays and our clothes were patched.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
In other languages
patch
British English: patch /pætʃ/ NOUN
A patch on a surface is a part of it which is different in appearance from the area around it.
...the bald patch on the top of his head.
American English: patch
Arabic: رُقْعَةٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: remendo
Chinese: 斑片
Croatian: mrlja
Czech: záplata
Danish: lap
Dutch: plekje
European Spanish: parche
Finnish: paikka kankaalla paikattu
French: raccord
German: Flicken
Greek: μπάλωμα
Italian: toppa
Japanese: つぎ 布きれ
Korean: 깁는 헝겊
Norwegian: lapp
Polish: łata
European Portuguese: remendo
Romanian: pată
Russian: заплата
Latin American Spanish: parche
Swedish: lapp
Thai: แผ่นผ้าปะรูในเสื้อผ้า
Turkish: yama
Ukrainian: клаптик
Vietnamese: miếng vá
British English: patch VERB
If you patch something that has a hole in it, you mend it by fastening a patch over the hole.
He and I patched the barn roof.
American English: patch
Brazilian Portuguese: remendar
Chinese: 打补丁
European Spanish: remendar
French: rapiécer
German: flicken
Italian: rattoppare
Japanese: 継ぎを当てる
Korean: 짜깁기 하다
European Portuguese: remendar
Latin American Spanish: remendar
All related terms of 'patch'
eye patch
An eye patch is a piece of material which you wear over your eye when you have damaged or injured it.
oil patch
an area or region where much petroleum is produced
patch up
If you patch up a quarrel or relationship , you try to be friendly again and not to quarrel any more.
bald patch
A patch on a surface is a part of it which is different in appearance from the area around it.
bare patch
A patch on a surface is a part of it which is different in appearance from the area around it.
patch quilt
a patchwork quilt
patch reef
a relatively small, isolated coral reef
patch test
a test to detect an allergic reaction by applying small amounts of a suspected substance to the skin and then examining the area for signs of irritation
phone patch
rocky patch
A rocky situation or relationship is unstable and full of difficulties .
skin patch
an adhesive patch stuck to the skin to slowly and steadily release medicine into the bloodstream
soul patch
a small patch of facial hair below the centre of the lower lip and above the chin
alcohol patch
a patch impregnated with the drug mecamylamine , which is worn on the skin by someone trying to reduce his or her craving for alcohol
matrix patch
A matrix patch is an adhesive patch with medicine distributed through the adhesive. The patch is applied to the skin, and the medicine in it is delivered into the skin and into the bloodstream .
patch pocket
a pocket on the outside of a garment
purple patch
If someone, especially a sports player or team , goes through a purple patch , they are very successful or lucky for a period.
a bad patch
a difficult or troubled time
nicotine patch
a patch that supplies small amounts of nicotine through the skin
patch together
If you patch something together , you form it from a number of parts in a quick , hurried way.
reservoir patch
A reservoir patch is an adhesive patch enclosing an amount of medicine . The patch is applied to the skin, and the medicine in it is delivered through a membrane into the skin and into the bloodstream .
shoulder patch
an emblem worn high on the arm as an insignia
vegetable patch
part of a garden used for growing vegetables
a rough patch
If you have or go through a rough patch , you have a lot of problems for a time.
not a patch on
not nearly as good as
patchboard
a device with a large number of sockets into which electrical plugs can be inserted to form many different temporary circuits : used in telephone exchanges , computer systems, etc
plugboard
a device with a large number of sockets into which electrical plugs can be inserted to form many different temporary circuits: used in telephone exchanges, computer systems, etc
a bad patch/a rough patch
If you have or go through a bad patch or a rough patch , you have a lot of problems for a time.
not a patch on sb/sth
If you say that someone or something is not a patch on another person or thing, you mean that they are not as good as that person or thing.